Last summer, a black firefighter from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) sued his agency for discrimination and retaliation against the use of water pipes against racial justice protesters.
On Tuesday, firefighter Omar Wilkes Defendant FDNY The officials he referred to were unfair disciplinary procedures as a retaliation for his opposition to the use of water pipes. His lawsuit named New York City, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro, and five other department officials as the city, and demanded compensation for violations of Wilkes’ freedom of speech. Wilks’ lawsuit also stated that FDNY took action against him because he publicly opposed racial discrimination in the department.
“Firefighter Wilkes was illegally punished for trying to change the discriminatory culture of FDNY,” said Ayman Abush, who represents Wilkes. “We will continue to fight for equality and ensure that the New York Fire Department does not retaliate against its members for taking the same actions.”
FDNY did not respond to the New York Daily News’ request for comment. It forwarded all inquiries to the New York City Law Department, which only admitted cases against the city. A spokesperson said that these allegations have not been confirmed and that the lawsuit will proceed in court.
In the racial justice protests triggered by the killing of George Floyd by a policeman in Minneapolis last summer, Wilkes, who has eight years of firefighting experience and was appointed minister, said his boss ordered the firefighters Use fire to “help control the protesters” hose against them. Wilkes objected and ultimately did not use the hose, but his lawsuit stated that the official who issued the order did not face any consequences.
Wilks claimed that he was also punished for complaining about FDNY’s discrimination against black firefighters. For this reason, he received a subpoena due to a complaint, and his lawsuit claimed that this was the result of angering higher-level officials.
He was suspended for one month and reassigned to a position where he was unable to receive overtime pay after protesting outside the New York Fire Department headquarters. The defendant later forced Wilkes to receive treatment before returning to work.
In the United States, the use of fire hoses on protesters has a long history. In the 1960s, civil rights protesters were often bombarded by urban water cannons, including Birmingham and Alabama’s public safety commissioner Burconner’s order in 1963.
FDNY has been hit by firefighters of color racial discrimination lawsuits for many years.exist Year 2014, An association of black firefighters successfully sued FDNY for discriminating against its members. Just last July, another firefighter of Peruvian descent accused the department of bullying him on the grounds of his race. New York Post.
